sky blue ● jason grace

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 The basin filled with an alarming speed. At first, the four of them pounded the walls, looking for an exit, but eventually they realized they were just bruising their skin. They climbed up to the alcoves, but it seemed like as soon as they arrived at one, it crumbled beneath them- a product of erosion and something more evil.

In the end, they stood on the highest alcoves, of which there were only three. Daria and Jason had to share the slippery surface, both because it was the only one left and Daria couldn't reach the stone surface by herself anyway.

"I could try lightning," Jason said. Daria kept a hold on his arm so he didn't fall over the edge as he peered up. "Maybe blast a hole in the roof?"

"That could bring down the whole room and crush us," Piper said.

"Or electrocute us," Daria added. "Here, make sure I don't fall. I'm going to try and make this basin deeper."

"What if you shake these alcoves?" Percy asked. "We'd all fall into the water."

"The water would catch up to us anyway," Daria pointed out. "Just hold on tight to something."

"Yeah," Jason said flatly. "So for me, that something's going to be you." Daria wouldn't call herself clumsy, but he tightened his arm around her stomach anyway. She still was wary, the floor was slippery and for all she knew, her powers were stronger than his grip.

Inhaling deeply, she made a pushing motion with her right arm. The rumbling of the cave was the last thing she heard before a piercing ringing overtook her senses. The pain was just like what she had felt at the Amazon headquarters, but worse.

She doubled-over immediately, unaware of anything but the way her stomach felt like someone was stabbing it from the inside. She knew it had to be the Gods, angry about something, and she was sure if Jason hadn't still had an arm wrapped around her, she would've crumpled to the floor right now.

The ringing was fading, even if the pain wasn't. Daria attributed the magnificence of it to the fact that it was a large use of her powers. She heard Percy yelling across the basin-wondering if she was okay, actually it was more along the lines of "what's wrong with her?" but Daria would take it as concern.

"The curse," Jason said aloud.

"Gaea's revenge." Piper agreed but Jason didn't correct her. "Look, I don't mean to sound insensitive, but this only bought us maybe another minute. We have to figure out how to get out of here."

"I'm fine," Daria gasped out, though she clearly wasn't. Either way, the pain stopped her from having to see Jason's disbelieving eyebrow raise.

"Your nose is bleeding." Jason deadpanned.

"Let me search the bottom," Percy said. "If this place was built as a fountain, there has to be a way to drain the thing. Piper, check the niches for secret exits. Maybe the seashells are knobs, or something."

"A little blood never stopped anyone," Daria argued. "Do you have ambrosia?"

"I- Yeah." He took out a damp plastic bag from his back pocket and handed her a squashed square of the godly food. "Eat."

"No, actually I was planning on tossing it into the-"

"For Pluto's sake, shut up, darling." He still had his arm around her, but it was ridgid. He was probably stressing himself out, trying to find a way to fix the situation. "We still need to fight the giants after this. You'll need your strength."

The ambrosia did make her feel a lot better. With the pain gone, she just moved a little slower than usual. She side-stepped, gently removing herself from her boyfriend's touch. Obviously, none of the seashells were magic buttons, the nymphs had to be the answer.